It has been half a yr since Jonas Vingegaard final took on knowledgeable race, with the Dane calling an early finish to his 2024 marketing campaign after successful the Tour de Pologne final August.
Now, he is again in motion this week as he heads to the Volta ao Algarve, kicking off his 2025 season and starting the racing highway again to the Tour de France looking for a 3rd total victory.
Speaking the day earlier than the race, which kicks off in Portimão on Wednesday, Vingegaard mentioned he is “not looking for solutions” after such an extended lay-off from racing.
He additionally famous that he seems like he is made a step ahead throughout a winter which has seen him keep away from coaching at altitude.
“I do not know if I’m looking for solutions. I feel I’m simply going to take pleasure in racing once more,” he mentioned in a pre-race press convention on Wednesday.
“I really feel like I’ve made a step. I really feel sturdy for the time being. You by no means know what everybody else has achieved so it is arduous to match. You simply should give attention to your self, and I’ve focussed all winter to get pretty much as good as doable.
“I’ve modified strategy and have not been at altitude camp, so it is going to be attention-grabbing to see what that does to the form.”
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Vingegaard will head to the Algarve for the primary time in his profession, having opted within the final two seasons to start out his yr at O Gran Camiño in north-western Spain.
This week’s five-day race is step one in the direction of his huge spring objectives of Paris-Nice and the Volta a Catalunya, he mentioned, whereas it is also an opportunity to keep away from the dangerous climate he is skilled at O Gran Camiño, and an opportunity to do battle with former teammate Primož Roglič.
“I actually like [O Gran Camiño], however I did not just like the climate we have had within the final two years,” Vingegaard mentioned. “So possibly I needed to strive one thing new and see.
“I’m comfortable to be right here and I’m trying ahead to the race. I hope to have the ability to struggle for the win. We have a robust crew as nicely, and I’m not the one one who’s in a position to do one thing. We’ll go for it, for positive.
“I feel my predominant opponent is the one you simply talked about,” he added after he was questioned about racing in opposition to Roglič. “It’s a robust peloton right here and clearly I additionally should be on an excellent and excessive stage. I hope to have the ability to compete with these guys for the final classification.”
Vingegaard did not give away a lot about his doable form heading into the race, which brings a summit end on the Alto da Foia on stage 2 after which a 20km time trial heading up the Alto do Malhão on stage 5.
“It’s been an excellent interval, to be trustworthy. I’ve had some good coaching within the final 4 or 5 weeks, so I feel the form is coming alongside and I’m actually trying ahead to racing once more,” he mentioned.
“It’s been some time since my final race, clearly however in fact, now I’m trying ahead to this race and my subsequent races
“Of course I miss racing. I like to race and that is why I really like this job. I’ve been coaching rather a lot however I wanted the low season early final yr due to every thing that occurred, clearly.
“But now, I’m motivated for this yr, particularly now for this race and the upcoming races. Then we’ll see, additionally for in a while within the season.”